Blog Posts by Keyla Hernández-Ulloa

In late July, I had the privilege of representing the FCC at the annual National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Conference. NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.

True to its theme, Rise As One, the 2013 conference’s workshops and presentations emphasized the importance of collaboration among all communities across the nation to find viable solutions to the similar challenges we face.

This year’s conference addressed issues of great interest to the Hispanic community, including: economic development, collaborative fundraising, K-12 education, social media, financial literacy, immigration reform, disaster preparedness, and the importance of obtaining a college degree.

The conference’s Líderes Summit, a national program designed to create opportunities for Latino youth, included workshops on preparing for job interviews, public speaking, and applying for a federal government job.

At the FCC exhibit I provided information on a variety of topics, including: informal complaints, cable television rates, indecency, bill shock, and the September 2015 deadline for low-power TV stations’ (LPTV) transition to an all-digital format.

There was also great interest about the October 15 – 29, 2013 application window for low-power FM radio stations (LPFMs). Consumers seeking more information on the LPFM window, including how to file FCC Form 318, were directed to the User Guide at the Media Bureau's Consolidated Database System (CDBS) at http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbs_ug.htm and/or advised to contact the Audio Division Help Desk at (202) 418‐2662.

Now that the holiday season is upon us, it is important to remember to protect our cell phones and smart devices from theft or loss. Theft of such devices continues to increase and is becoming a serious issue not only in the United States but globally.

Among the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) efforts to address the issue of stolen or lost devices, was a November press conference co-hosted by Chairman Julius Genachowski and Under-Secretary of Communications for Mexico Hector Olavarría Tapia. Also in attendance was Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief of Police Cathy L. Lanier, who has been a leading advocate on the issue of cell phone theft.

During this event (which can be viewed at http://www.fcc.gov/events/announcement-bilateral-initiative-combat-stolen-mobile-devices) they announced an initiative to combat the theft and cross-border trafficking of mobile devices between the United States and Mexico. The agreement is in addition to the recent participation of mobile service providers - both in the United States and Mexico - in an international stolen device database that will use shared information to identify and deactivate a stolen device after it has been reported stolen. This will prevent devices stolen in one country to be re-activated in another country.

Embrace Now, this year’s National Council of La Raza (NCLR) conference, kicked off at the end of July. The Commission was well represented as we exhibited at the conference’s National Latino Family Expo. We provided information on a range of topics from the Do Not Call Registry to unwanted telephone marketing calls and information on finding local broadcast television stations. Of particular interest was Lifeline - which provides eligible consumers a basic monthly discount on one basic local service - and Link-Up - which pays for part of a connection or activation charge for new phone service. Consumers who were not aware of the eligibility requirements or restrictions were advised to contact their local service provider or public utilities commission. Most attendees who visited our booth wanted information on how to file an informal complaint or how to comment.

On September 9, 2010, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Shirley Rooker, Director and Consumer Reporter for the 'Call For Action' program, at the WTOP studios. The segment aired on WFED (1500 AM) on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 10:30pm but if you missed it you can listen to the segment on the left side of their website under Of Consuming Interest. The interview was a great forum to provide an overview of and consumer tips on Lifeline Link-Up, bill shock and early termination fees.

The first topic discussed was Lifeline Link-Up. For eligible consumers, Lifeline provides a monthly discount on basic local telephone service. Some consumers may also be eligible for Link-up - a one-time assistance that pays for part of the consumer's connection or activation charge for new phone service. Consumers might not be aware that they qualify for this assistance. Since eligibility requirements for these programs vary by state, consumers should contact their local telephone service provider or public utilities company for more information on these requirements. A consumer can always visit www.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL FCC for assistance.

Next, we discussed bill shock – the result of a sudden, unexpected increase in monthly mobile service bills. Bill shock can occur because of misunderstood advertising, unanticipated roaming, or data charges. Among the tips I provided are:

Understand your calling pattern. By discussing your pattern with your service provider, the carrier may be able to provide a plan that meets your needs.

Consider a prepaid phone if you have a low usage pattern of calls.

Understand your roaming charges and confirm that your phone's screen indicates when you are roaming.

The last topic covered was early termination fees (ETF). We discussed ways to avoid ETF:

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